Creamy Ranch Pasta & Pea Salad

Author: Jessica Milnes

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Creamy Ranch Pasta & Pea Salad

This Creamy Ranch Pasta & Pea Salad is one of those simple side dishes that comes together quickly and goes with just about anything. Small pasta shells, sweet peas, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and red onion are tossed in a creamy homemade ranch dressing for an easy salad that is perfect for family dinners, summer cookouts, potlucks, or whenever you need a good make ahead side.

I love using small shell pasta for this one because all that creamy ranch dressing and those little peas find their way inside the shells.

It’s simple, filling, and even better after it has had a little time to chill in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

For the Pasta

• 12 ounces small shell pasta
• 2 cups frozen peas, thawed
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled
• 1/2 cup finely diced red onion

For the Creamy Ranch Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk, as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Salt to taste, if needed

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the small shell pasta according to the package directions until al dente.
2. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow it to drain really well and cool completely.
3. While the pasta is cooling, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels and crumble once cooled.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, 2 tablespoons of milk, and black pepper until smooth and creamy. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add another tablespoon of milk.
5. Add the cooled pasta shells, thawed peas, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and diced red onion to a large bowl.
6. Pour the creamy ranch dressing over the pasta mixture and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
7. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This gives all those flavors a chance to come together.
8. Give the salad another good stir before serving. If the pasta has absorbed some of the dressing while chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayonnaise or splash of milk until it reaches the creaminess you like.

Notes

I really like using small shell pasta for this salad because the peas and creamy ranch dressing work their way right inside those little shells. It makes every bite good!

This is also a great recipe to make ahead. The pasta will soak up some of that dressing as it sits in the refrigerator, so don't worry if you need to freshen it up with a little extra mayonnaise or a splash of milk before serving.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with a little extra bacon!